Gaff

Gaff, in a ship or boat, the spar to which the head of a fore-and-aft sail is bent, such sail having its foremost side made fast by rings to the mast, and its lower edge, in most instances, held straight by a boom. The thick end of the gaff is constructed with 'jaws' to pass half round the mast, the other half being enclosed by a rope. A gaff-topsail is a small sail carried on the topmast above the gaff.—For the gaff or hook of the fisherman, see ANGLING.